Latch needle



Oct. 21, 1930. A. c. PARLINI LATCH NEEDLE Filed July 10, 1929 wd RU Y m K E01. 0 MC n 5% m m A,

Patented Oct. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALEXANDER C. PABLINI, OF WOODSIDE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GOTHAM KNITBAC CHINE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE- t LATCH NEEDLE Application filed July 10,

This invention relates to manually operated latch needles such as are used in re-knitting runs, ravels, dro ped stitches and the like in stockings, un erwear and other knitted fabrics.

In general, the method of re-knitting a run in a stocking may be described as follows: The re-knitting needle is inserted through the loop at the end of the run until the loop lies on the shank of the needle slightly above the opened latch. The first cross thread of the run is then caught in, the hook of the needle and the needle is raised. During the upward movement of the needle the loop slides along the shank so as to close the latch, thus looking the thread in the hook. As the needle is further raised the loop slides over the latch and the thread in the hook is looped upwardly through the first loop. The needle is then advanced along the run and the loop thus formed is pulled over the next cross thread after which the needle is lowered so that the thread in the hook travels upward to 0 en the latch. The needle is lowered until t is loop'lies on the shank of the needle slightly above the opened latch. The formation of loops in the cross threads of the runs and the successive inter-engagement of these loops with each other are continued until the run is .repaired.

In carrying out these steps in the process of repairing a run, the stitch. is frequently dropped because the operator either lowers the needle too far or raises it before the hook picks up the next cross thread of the run.

If-the needle is lowered too far the cross thread in the hook slides over the opened latch, and when the needle is raised, the cross thread, as well as the previously formed loop which also lies on the shank above the latch, both slide over the latch, which is closed by the raising of the needle, and the stitch 1s dro ped.

If the needle is raised before the next cross thread of the run is caught in the hook, the, previously formed loop slides over the closed latch and as there is no loop in the hook with which it can interlock, the stitch is dropped.

The latch needle embodying the present invention is adapted to prevent the dropping 192a Serial No. 377,171.

of stitches due to the failure of the hook to engage the next cross thread of the run'as mentioned above. Therefore the principal objectof the present invention is to provide means for indicating to the operator during the upward movement of the needle, whether the hook engages the next cross thread of the run.

In general, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a hook pivoted on the lower end of the shank and provided with an upwardly extending projection adapted to project from the front face of the shank when the hook does not engage a thread so that it stops the downward movement of the loop on the shank and revents the loop slipping off the needle. Wlien the hook does engage a thread this projection is forced into alignment with the shank of the needle and lies'below the front face of the shank and does not offer any resistance to the movement of the loop which slips off the needle to interlock with the next succeeding thread.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the invention will be better understood when the description is taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of a latch needle embodying a preferred form of the present invention showing the hook engaging a thread;

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation of the needle showing the latch open and also showing how the hook lies out of alignment with the shank thus causing the hook projection to lie above the face of the shank when the hook does not engage a thread;

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate, respectively, side and front views of another arrangement of the needle members, and

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate, respectively, side and front views of another'modification.

Referring now more particularl to Fi s. 1-3 inclusive, the numeral 1 indicates t e shank of a re-knitting needle, the lower end of which has a recess 2 therein extending a substantial distance from the lower end so as to provide a slot between the two shank projections 3. The front face 4 of the shank is preferably contoured as illustrated to facilitate the passage of the needle through the loops of the fabric.

I A book 5 is loosely pivoted on the shank projections 3 by means of the rivet 6 or other suitable means so that it is free to rotate about its pivot by the pull of gravity. The upper end of the hook is provided with a projection 7 preferably having a slightly rounded edge as illustrated and of such length that when the hook is out of alignment with the shank as shown in Fig. 3, the hook projection will project beyond the front face 4 of the shank.

A latch 8 of the usual design is preferably pivoted about the same point as the hook 5, and, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, both the latch and the hook lie in the recess 2 of the shank. The upper edge of this recess is most conveniently made slightly concave downwardly, as indicated at 9, in order to accommodate the hook projection 7 when the hook is in alignment with the shank and to furnish a sto to limit opening movement of the latch 8. The lower part of the edge 9 indicated at 10 in Fig. 3, serves as a stop to limit the backward movement of the hook.

From the above description, it will be understood that when the hook engages a thread as illustrated in Fig. 1 and the needle is raised, the tension on the hook will cause it to lie in alignment with the shank and the hook projection 7 will lie in the recess 2 and below the front face t of the shank. There will therefore be nothing to prevent the needle from being pulled upwardly through the loop on the shank. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be observed that when the hook 5 does not engage a thread it is pulled downward by gravity until its rear edge strikes against the stop 10 and the hook projection 7 lies above the front face 4 of the shank as illustrated. If an attempt is now made to pull the needle further upward the projection 7 will contact with the loop 12 on the shank which will prevent the loop from sliding down. The operator feeling this resistance therefore learns that the hook is not engaging a thread and consequently he lowers the needle again and picks up a thread with the hook.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a different manner of pivoting the hook and latch is shown. The shank 1 is provided with an elongated, substantially U-shaped member 13 suitably connected to the shank and extending downward from the lower edge of the shank. The hook 14 is recessed as indicated at 15 to accommodate the two branches of the member 13 and is pivoted thereto by the rivet 16. The latch 17 is likewise pivoted on the rivet 16 and Lies between the branches of the member 13. In this form of needle there are two hook projections as indicated at 18.

In Figs. 6 and 7 still another manner-of pivoting the hook and latch is shown. The hook 19 is provided with two upwardly projecting members 20, the upper ends of which serve as the hook projections. These members extend into the recess 21 in the lower end of the shank 1 and are pivoted thereto by the rivet 22 on which the latch 23 is also pivoted.

Having thus described these embodiments of the invention, it is not to be understood that the invention is limited to the details set forth, for various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A needle for repairing fabrics comprising, a shank, a hook pivoted thereon and provided with a projection,,said hook being lllOVtlblQ about its pivot to lie in alignment with said shank when engaging a thread and said projection being thereby withdrawn below the surface of the shank.

2. A needle for repairing fabrics comprising, a shank, a hook pivoted thereon and provided with a projection, said hook being movable about its pivot to lie out of alignment with said shank when not engaging a thread and said projection being then thereby extended beyond the surface of the shank and adapted to contact with a loop on said shank to prevent the hook from passing beyond the thread.

3. A latch needle for repairing fabrics comprising, a shank having a recess therein, a. hook pivoted on said shank in said recess and provided with a projection, said hook being movable about its pivot to position said projection within said recess when said hook engages a thread thereby permitting a loop on said shank to slide over the hook end of the needle.

4. A needle for repairing fabrics comprising, a shank, a hook pivoted on said shank and provided with a projection, said hook being movable about its pivot to extend said projection outside the surface of said shank when said hook does not engage a thread and means contacting with said hook to limit the outward extension of said projection.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALEXANDER C. PARLINI. 

